Should these 14 New York Senators be impeached for voting in favor of a legislation that benefited them financially and protected the market of their professional services?

Recently a legislation was passed in New York State enhancing unauthorized practice of law from a misdemeanor to a felony.


According to my research of public records, 14 New York Senators whom I name in the table below voted for this legislation, legislation that enhanced restrictions to the market where they continue to provide professional services. 


Therefore, these New York Senators had a material interest in the legislation they were voting for - to restrict competition to their business - and should not have voted at all.


It is interesting to mention that what exactly constitutes the practice of law remains undefined, and thus is subject to selective and arbitrary enforcement. 


Yet, these 14 attorney-senators made sure that this vague and undefined activity must be now punished as a felony (1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison + fines and prohibition to vote and have firearms) rather than a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in the local jail + fines).

The data in the table below was compiled by me from two public websites - the website of the New York State Legislature as to the voting records for this particular statute, and the website of the New York State Court Administration as to registration statuses and information for senators-attorneys.


It is for the public to decide whether the senators who use New York Legislature to get benefits for their business should be impeached, thrown out of office and disciplined as attorneys for conduct unbecoming a member of the legal profession.

No.	Name of Senator-attorney	Attorney Reg. No.	Admitted to practice law in NY	Judiciary Committee Vote - Mar 1, 2011	Floor Vote, Mar 7, 2011	Judiciary Committee Vote  – Jan 18, 2012	Floor Vote – May 1, 2012
1.	Breslin,Neil D. ( in private practice, Hiscock & Barclay)	1431972	1972	Aye	Aye	Aye	Aye
2.	DeFrancisco, John A. (private practice, DEFRANCISCO & FALGIATANO) (co-sponsor)	1374495	1972	Aye		Aye
3.	Flanagan, John J., (in private practice, FORCHELLI, CURTO, DEEGAN, SCHWARTZ, MINEO, COHN & TERRNA, LLP.)	2433803	1991	Aye		Aye
4.	Gianaris, Michael N.	2598399	1994	Aye		Aye
5.	Lanza, Andrew J.	2550093	1993	Aye		Aye
6.	LaValle, Kenneth P (in solo private practice)	2554574	1993	Aye		Aye
7.	Little, Elizabeth E. (in private practice, LITTLE & O'CONNOR ATTORNEYS, P.C.)	2528818	1993	Aye		Aye
8.	Nozzolio, Michael F. (in private practice, NOZZOLIO LAW OFFICES C/O HARRIS BEACH PLLC)	1818814	1980	Aye		Aye
9.	O’Mara, Thomas F. (in private practice, DAVIDSON & O'MARA, P.C.  243 LAKE ST)	2479269	1992	Aye		Aye
10.	Perkins, William P. (in private practice, WILLIAM PHILLIP PERKINS   SEYFARTH SHAW LLP)	2843191	1997	Aye		Aye
11.	Ranzenhofer, Michael H. (in private practice, FRIEDMAN & RANZENHOFER PC  PO BOX 31)	1765411	1980	Aye		Aye
12.	Saland, Stephen M. (co-sponsor, in solo private practice)	1634526	1969	Aye		Aye
13.	Zeldin, Lee M. (in solo private practice)	4195053	2004	Aye		Aye
14.	Adams, Eric R. (in solo private practice)	1786243	1978			Aye